by Sandy » Tue May 23, 2017 9:14 pm
I'd be a bit surprised if the establishment of a discussion group (not a "gay club") at Samford University kicks off a major controversy, even in politically backward and provincial Alabama.
Having graduated from a Southern Baptist college, and understanding the atmosphere created by the presence of a lot of Christians of that particular persuasion, the required church membership of college leadership and staff, and the "rules" governed behavior, I clearly understand the need for a discussion group where students can discuss sexuality, along with a lot of other issues they struggle with, in a safe, non-threatening environment. It would have been a lot harder back then to have such a group, but that doesn't mean students were all compliant with expectations, and not struggling with a lot of different issues. Such a group would have been highly productive, with good leadership, in helping students work through those kinds of issues. That kind of group, if it is true to its purpose, wouldn't just be an "it's OK to be gay" discussion, It wouldn't be that simplistic, and hopefully not that biased.